ENGLAND'S hopes of progressing towards a formidable first-innings total suffered a major setback with Kevin Pietersen falling to the 25th ball of the day in the crucial fourth Test at Trent Bridge.

Pietersen had resumed the second day on 33 - with England on a promising 229 for four - hoping he could reach his maiden Test century at the ground where he played his first four years in county cricket for Nottinghamshire

His partnership this morning with Andrew Flintoff was going to be crucial to England's hopes of building on a promising platform and progressing past 400 to put pressure on Australia.

But after quickly progressing to 45, Pietersen perished to fast bowler Brett Lee to give the tourists an early impetus at a ground where they have clinched the series on their last two Ashes tours.

Pietersen had been positive from the very first ball of the day, guiding Lee's leg-side delivery down to the fine leg boundary and then forcing him off the back foot through point for four in his next over.

Another packed Trent Bridge crowd were anticipating an exciting partnership between England's two big-hitters this morning, but instead Lee delivered a full-length outswinger in his next over which Pietersen edged behind to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

Flintoff, man of the match during England's two-run victory in the second Test at Edgbaston, had been quiet during the early stages of the day as Pietersen attempted to take the attack to Australia.

He survived a strong lbw appeal from Shane Warne, who showed no signs of the lower back soreness which has been troubling him, in the previous over and was also fortunate when he attempted to drive Lee off the back foot with the ball flying over the heads of the slip cordon for his first boundary of the day.

The Lancashire all-rounder followed that with a cover drive for four off Warne in his next over when he was joined by wicketkeeper-batsman Geraint Jones at the crease as England progressed to 253 for five after half-an-hour's play.